Introduction

It is not unusual for cats and dogs to jump up on furniture, tables, and counters. If they do so when the owners are present, they can usually be discouraged by squirting them with a water pistol or by making a loud noise (e.g. with a horn, can full of stones, or whistle) whenever they jump up. It is important not to yell or shout when this is done or use physical punishment in response to misbehaviors.

Keeping Your Pet Off the Furniture

While you’re there

Any loud noise you make needs to be very closely paired with the misbehavior in order to be effective. If the pet jumps up, and you need to leave the room to find your whistle, too much time will have elapsed. Ideally, the noise should happen as soon as the behavior is about to start, or within seconds of the trespass. It is best that the pet does not even realize the noise is coming from you. If the pet associates it closely with you, this can make them avoid you, or just wait until you are gone to misbehave. If you see a dog in the ready position to jump up, distracting them by asking them to do a fun behavior for a treat (i.e. lie down for a cookie) may help to reinforce the desired behavior of sleeping on the floor.

While you’re away

Unfortunately, many pets will go onto countertops and furniture when the owners are not at home. Fortunately, there are some effective ways to keep them off. For example, you can cut a number of 5-10 cm strips of 2 or 3/4 inch double-sided tape and stick them firmly onto furniture surfaces approximately one piece for every 10 square cm. When the pet jumps onto the furniture, the paws will temporarily stick to the tape. Since dogs and cats have a strong limb-withdrawal reflex, this will be very unpleasant and discourage them. This method is both safe and, after a few encounters, very effective.

Other ideas for covering surfaces such as countertops include placing cookie or pizza cookware on towels, then filling them with a thin layer of water. Placing them in key landing spots will discourage countertop cats. Note that if they land in the water, there is a potential for a spill. Covering furniture with heavy plastic when you are out of the home can dissuade the pets from sleeping there because the cold, slippery surface is not as desirable as a plush covering.